Parking tax
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Break the scream barrier NOW!
Wicked twists: 4
Danger: Hgih Voltage!
There wouldn't be an effect on parking passes for this season, but look for them to increase next year.
If there is a parking tax, CP has two choices. Absorb the cost, or pass it along. What do you think will happen?
Seems to me that the city of Sandusky has CP by the short hairs. Need extra revenue? Tax the park. What are they going to do, close down?
CP is fighting the same sort of battle with the city of Allentown and Dorney Park. City Council is opposed to anything that the park wants to do to remain profitable, but everytime they need to find a revenue stream, the park (and in turn -- we guests) are the first place that they look.
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Duane Cahill
If you're flammable and you have legs, you're never blocking a fire exit.
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Cee yUo AT Cedar Point
I don't know what their rules are going to be, but they would probably have a tax on money paid. If you have a season parking pass, then maybe they can only tax you the one time and not every time you enter the park.
You would think with how much business and attention CP brings the City of Sandusky that they wouldn't even think of messing with them. I guess I was wrong about that!
Usually, when a subject like this come up, the first thing many people say is "Look how much Cedar Point gives back to the city." That's true to a point - but to another extent, some would say the park isn't as gracious to the locals as it may appear. Sometimes it looks like Cedar Point is in it's own world, not thinking or caring much for what goes on beyond them. Not that it's a bad thing. I think it comes from being a company posing as a small city :) I do hear about some resentment that Cedar Point doesn't help out the "locals" enough. I don't buy that and I think the argument is ridiculous. But I hear it nonetheless. So, think somewhere in between those two extremes of generosity and isolation. My post from CoasterBuzz on this subject:
While Cedar Point is certainly a big part of the local economy, it's not the only game in town. Coaster enthusiasts may not realize it, but there are many reasons tourists come to Erie County besides Cedar Point. Unless someone picks up Lake Erie and moves it, there will always be a reason to visit. Tourism adds to the economy, but it also stresses local services. You couldn't begin to imagine the toll that tourists take on police, fire, highways, etc. Not to mention many of them forget how to drive when they get here :)
That said, my opinion is that the tax is a bad idea. To keep taxing the biggest guy in town is just asking for trouble. I'm sure it happens in other industries in other communities as well. I think the talk of a tax will remain just talk.
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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com
*** This post was edited by Gemini 6/1/2002 8:00:35 AM ***
Gemini -
While you undoubtedly have a point that Erie County has other reasons to visit, the same could undoubtedly be said about almost any town, anywhere. I spent 4-5 years in Decatur, Illinois in the early 90's. From my point of view, Decatur is about as close to purgatory on earth as you will find. Of course, that's my own point of view.
From THEIR point of view, Decatur boasts of several "tourist attractions", such as Lake Decatur, the Decatur Celebration, state softball tournaments, and the Decatur Heritage Family Festival. Lots of small-town stuff (Decatur's population is around 90,000 - significantly more than that of Sandusky) but what they call tourist draws nonetheless.
The largest of these is the Celebration, a 3-day street festival that draws 300,000 people. The highlight of the Celebration is their entertainment lineup, which this year features luminaries such as Loverboy, Jerry Reed, The Fixx, and the Nelsons (remember Matthew and Gunnar?)
I guess my point is that if there were no CP, then some people would likely still spend tourist dollars in Erie County/Sandusky - but there wouldn't be much more compelling reason to visit Erie County than there would Lucas, Ottawa, Lorain, or any other lakefront county or town.
Of course, I don't think anyone is going to disagree that CP is THE major tourist attraction in the area (perhaps in the state?), but I would have to think that the middle ground between generosity and isolation to which you refer probably leans toward the generosity side - just by virtue of the fact that they do pay the taxes that they pay today.
I'm willing to bet that if you broke out the ledger sheet, CP contributes far, far more than the incremental costs of public services necessary to support the additional crush of summer tourists to the area.
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Duane Cahill
If you had a friend who was a tightrope walker and one day you are walking down the street with him and he suddenly tripped & fell, that would be completely unacceptable.
I understand and agree with what you're saying. There is no doubt that Cedar Point is the big dog ... in tourism. I guess what I was hinting at was that without Cedar Point, Sandusky would still be a town of 32,000 with a good shipping port and industrial base. Sometimes enthusiasts assume that Cedar Point is Sandusky.
On the flip side, I don't agree with the isolation theory, but I sure hear about it a lot :) It's interesting being a local and an enthusiast. You really get to see both sides. Trust me, though - I do agree that Cedar Point is over taxed.
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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com
*** This post was edited by Gemini 6/1/2002 6:22:18 PM ***
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